Biosecurity officers at airports across Australia now have increased measures to effectively and accurately assess and detect potential biosecurity risks. The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) has replaced its manual screening and inspection system with a mobile and desktop application for scanning passports and communicating outcomes for incoming passengers in real time, facilitating streamlined processes.

In an era where the global community is more interconnected than ever, the importance of stringent biosecurity measures can’t be overstated. For an island nation like Australia, safeguarding its environment is paramount. Once passengers arriving by air have filled out their incoming passenger cards – and if they have something to declare – they meet with a biosecurity officer for risk assessment. Traditionally, this screening was conducted using manual systems and processes. It was often time-consuming and slowed down passengers’ entry into the country.

To keep up with changing and increased global trade, traveler habits and ever-evolving biosecurity risks, DAFF leaders sought a solution to streamline biosecurity processes at the airport. They partnered with us to modernize the department’s Traveler and Mail System (TAMS) application. 

Together, we developed a mobile and desktop application for TAMS to replace outdated systems for biosecurity and compliance officers with a powerful tool that enhances efficiency, effectiveness and accuracy. The app expedites the incoming passenger screening process and was developed using a mix of Canvas and Microsoft Power Apps working seamlessly with Microsoft Dynamics 365 CE CRM, an iOS Native application and Microsoft Azure Integration Services to integrate with existing departmental systems.

The TAMS mobile app is being used by nearly 500 biosecurity officers across eight Australian international airports and is already yielding important benefits, including:

• Increased responsiveness to emerging threats and needs
• Streamlined entry for compliant passengers
• Improved workflows and data consistency
• Simplified, real-time reporting

With this program, DAFF is demonstrating the many ways technology can be used to protect and preserve the natural world around us. 

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